Updating Results

Saab Australia

3.9
  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Saab Australia Reviews

Based on 23 surveyed graduates working at Saab Australia. Read on to get an insider’s view on life as a graduate.
3.9
Based on 23 reviews

Pros & Cons

  • Numerous opportunities to network with fellow graduates and team members, welcoming team members, good work-life balance, good work culture, flexible working arrangements, interesting projects, great mentoring program
  • Learning about business strategies and processes that are used on projects. This is drastically different to taught content from university course work. Graduate school development. This has taught me professional skills to be used in workplaces. I think these skills are very important because they can be used universally in all workplace environments. Meeting professionals in different fields.
  • Culture, especially the events that promote socializing outside of your own business unit. - Work and teams are supportive of each other and promote learning deeply in your area; but also promote broadening skills and developing to understand broader picture of projects. Work is valuable and as a graduate, I feel like I contribute to the work being done overall in the business. The ability to work my own hours (within reason) has greatly allowed me to develop a proper work-life balance that has allowed for objectively improved health since finishing university.
  • The culture at SAAB is great. In an organisation that is expanding quite quickly, It's great to see the investment and care for its employees. Monthly department meetings to hear what is happening across the company is also great insight, in particular for graduate engineers.
  • Autonomy and not micromanaged. Get to do things on my own and ask questions when I need.
  • Lack of documentation for procedures. A lot of the times I have found myself stuck on a question or task because there are no instructions/guidelines that I can refer to.
  • Some tools are counterintuitive to use, but they have trainings to learn these tools appropriately.
  • I can't answer this, haven't experienced anything that can be described as the worst thing
  • Lack of processes/not fully implemented and practised processes.
  • Developing larger standardised processes within the company/

What Insiders Say

6.9
Career Prospects
6.9
Career Prospects
Seem to be lots of training courses based on developing skills to jump into certain levels such as team lead or engineering manager. This paired with being able to apply for formal learning such as masters degrees gives outlines on how to achieve certain roles. The specifics on how to do it is kept at a higher level so people can't tailor responses to seem 100% appropriate for a role when they aren't
7.9
Corporate Social Responsibility
7.9
Corporate Social Responsibility
CSR commitment is very high - Saab matches all fundraising by the social club and supports many charity organisations
8.6
Culture
8.6
Culture
Culture in hours has promoted team cohesion and a genuine interest in the wellbeing of others and their development either professionally or personally. This has led to some new hobbies developed through the year. Managers are approachable and commonly involved in mentor programs with graduate engineers to allow them to voice any concerns or queries regarding areas of their expertise. Outside of ours, both within the business unit as the company as a whole promotes socializing through the social club that is ran internally which provides subsidized events or group events such as go karting.
8.3
Diversity
8.3
Diversity
Seems from the perspective of a middle aged white man, that they are trying to implement an open policy of getting the best people regardless of gender, background, or preferences. I don't and won't need childcare or maternity leave so i have inquired. They are working hard to change their current retention rate, so that has to be a good thing, as for promotion still down the road for me so i'm not worried at this stage.
7.6
Satisfaction
7.6
Satisfaction
Extremely satisfied with work, allowed me to develop a variety of skills that lean on senior members’ experience and ISO/AS Standards. Day to day work includes technical drawings that commonly provide enough challenge to extend myself.
7.7
Management
7.7
Management
Great mentors both professionally and personally. They approach communication well and are open to process changes or provide adequate feedback if things are not possible to change. They have provided appropriate praise and recognition when required.
7.6
Office Work Environment
7.6
Office Work Environment
Saab's main office in Adelaide is quite nice with a central courtyard providing natural light throughout the facility. A new building is currently being constructed as a significant extension to the main office. The Melbourne office and Brisbane office are also quite nice. There is no specific dress code for Saab, most people will either wear a buttoned shirt or a polo shirt, however people will wear anything from a t-shirt and hoodie or a suit and tie. People are free to tailor their outfit to their day.
8.3
Recruitment
8.3
Recruitment
The process was efficient, friendly, professional, and clear. Easily the smoothest and best hiring process for graduates. 1) Submit resume and basic details. A cover letter may have been required, I can't recall. 2) Received email, inviting me to complete online assessments. These were quick and not at all arduous. 3) Received phone call, inviting me for an interview in person at Mawson Lakes. I was unable to attend so completed it via video call. 4) Attended interview, interviewed by representatives from both HR and a technical role. 5) Received phone call offering me the position, contract and details sent via email the same day. It took around six weeks from initial application to contract in hand, much faster than any other positions I applied for. The interview was very casual, often devolving into chatting about my experiences and interests with the technical interviewer. I found this to be an incredibly positive sign, as they were not fixated on answering exact questions - it seemed as though the interviewers truly wanted to get to know me and assess my applicability to the role. I would recommend that they go over the information on the company website on the company history and current major projects. I would also recommend that they understand what skills they have that are transferable to a corporate job and to be confident during the interview!
7.6
Salary
7.6
Salary
Above average pay with regular pay rises. 13% super, 2 extra weeks of leave or can get it paid out at the end of the year
7.4
Training
7.4
Training
Formal induction sessions were conducted very early on, and all at once. While a lot of important information was conveyed, I fear I have forgotten most of it by now. Formal grad school programs have been good. Departmental introductions are brilliant, while externally-run soft skills workshops have varied in quality. Informal training has been exceptional. My team are incredibly supportive and open. I couldn't have asked for better mentors from whom to learn in my first year out of university.
8.3
Work Hours
8.3
Work Hours
The company seems quite flexible when it comes to altering contracted hours for different needs, and when those hours are completed. For me personally, I like to get to work early morning to beat the city's traffic, and I am able to do this with the full support of my team and supervisor, and then leave early to maintain appropriate full time hours. Brilliant, the court side 36ers tickets are great. and the 10 extra days of Saab leave are very handy and much appreciated. Have had some free dinners the boss has picked up, I didn't move, never needed am uber, and the offer a discount on all manner of shopping experiences which I used quite often. access to private health is through 3rd party with a discount, it was just more viable for my situation to choose a different option.
7.7
Sustainability
7.7
Sustainability
There is no plastic at work in terms of plates and cutlery and coffee mugs.